Starting Gate: McCain's First Test

By: Vaughn Ververs
Topics: Starting Gate

The New York Times dropped its long-rumored bombshell story alleging that a past relationship with a female lobbyist so worried advisers of his 2000 presidential campaign that they engineered an intervention of sorts to put an end to it.

The implications could not be more clearly stated in the second paragraph of the story: "Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself – instructing staff members to block the woman's access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him."

The story also suggests McCain may have done favors for the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman: "A champion of deregulation, Mr. McCain wrote letters in 1998 and 1999 to the Federal Communications Commission urging it to uphold marketing agreements allowing a television company to control two stations in the same city, a crucial issue for … one of Ms. Iseman's clients."

The story includes denials from both McCain and Iseman about the suggested romantic relationship and the campaign released a statement calling the story a "hit and run smear campaign."

Politically speaking, the story is threatening to McCain on two fronts. First, with the nomination not yet completely in the grasp, it threatens to spark more concerns among a party he is trying to unite for the fall campaign. The reaction of those conservative agitators who have opposed McCain in the primary campaign will be telling to how harmful even the vague allegations raised by this story to his attempts at consolidating the GOP. There could be a "told-you-so" reaction but the fact this story is being leveled by a news organization that has been a longtime whipping post for conservatives may help McCain.

Possibly more harmful in the long run is any denting of McCain's image as a crusader against special interests and the Washington establishment. The inference that a personal relationship (romantic or not) could have influenced him to do anything that even appear to have bent the rules could damage his appeal and blunt his attempts to broaden the base of his votes among independent voters.

McCain is scheduled to appear at a press availability this morning at 9:00am ET. This will be his first test as the presumptive nominee to demonstrate how he will perform under this kind of pressure. The "straight talk" he has long championed will be parsed a hundred different ways and compared to the story and the public record. How he handles the allegations raised could set the pattern for his general election campaign.

You can watch McCain's press conference live on CBSNews.com at 9:00am ET.

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by giantrobot2 February 23, 2008 2:48 PM EST: It''s Mike Huckabee''s humor and humbleness that make him real. All the other candidates seem so phony and insincere.

John McCain will get crushed in the general election unless the Republican party elects Mike Huckabee to go toe to toe with Obama. With John McCain dry sense of humor and Obama''s energetic speeches, there''s no way McCain can rake up enough voters in a general election.

The Republican party is doomed forever unless Ohio and Texas stand up on March 4th and represent the people not the establishment. This is the last chance the Republican party of Lincoln and Reagan can last.

With Huckabee''s dynamic charismatic humor and down home charm he is the only one can that go toe to toe with Obama in the ring. The Republican party establisment is making a fatal error supporting McCain especially if Obama is choosen as Democrate nominee.

Ohio and Texas, you are the last two big states that can turn this thing around. After you, there are no other big states and the Republican party fades out into the distance.

The common ordinary Americans are counting on you to save the day for America and vote for Mike Huckabee.; Reply to this comment


by marcuswatson February 23, 2008 1:36 PM EST: How can McCain be a friend to lobbyists and our friend too? No, that man is too tricky. Don''t be fooled.; Reply to this comment


by giantrobot2 February 22, 2008 11:11 PM EST: Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California, the largest Christian church in the world said this about Mike Huckabee

%u201CI know most of the candidates running for president but I%u2019ve known Mike Huckabee the longest, since we did our graduate degrees together in the late 70s. Mike%u2019s a man of vision, compassion, and integrity. I%u2019ve watched his uncanny ability to identify with normal people in ways that many leaders don%u2019t. That%u2019s probably why TIME named him one of the five best governors in America. He%u2019s definitely presidential material. But honestly, what I find most appealing is his self-deprecating humor. That%u2019s a key sign of a spiritually and emotionally healthy leader - someone who is comfortable with himself, is authentic, doesn%u2019t wear a mask, and is secure enough to be humble. People love that.%u201D

From day one, Mike Huckabee''''s message has stayed consistent. His message is to bring America "up" not just "left" or "right". He wants to lift America up to higher ground.

The Democrats voice has been heard by picking Obama who is about Change. But on the Republican side, the establishment has stifled the voice of their voters and force the Republican voters to choose McCain because of their greedy pride.

Ohio and Texas must vote for Huckabee, otherwise the Republican party is doomed forever. We are counting on Ohio and Texas to lift this nation up.; Reply to this comment


by hillarynow February 21, 2008 12:21 PM EST: I see, so it''s a ''smear job'' on McCain, it''s unfair, it''s a hit job, blah de blah blah blah Republicans. How about you all just realize right here and now what hypocrites you all are next time you trash Bill Clinton.; Reply to this comment